Volunteer network Permablitz is transforming gardens across Melbourne

A NETWORK of volunteers is transforming Australian gardens into sustainable sanctuaries, one ‘Permablitz’ at a time.

Launched nine years ago the Permablitz network is a group of volunteers who transform residential yards into sustainable gardens.

Think Backyard Blitz with a focus on permaculture.

Reservoir resident and Leader photographer Angie Basdekis last month volunteered her home for a Permablitz, supplying all the garden materials — and meals for hungry volunteers — in exchange for a garden overhaul.

Volunteer, Brooke Geller, front, doing some initial weeding.

Ellen Smith with a barrow full of weeds

Permablitz volunteers planting out the completed wicking garden beds.

Large apple boxes used to create the wicking garden beds, a feature of the Reservoir Permablitz.

“A friend of mine had a Permablitz at her house two years ago and I went along to that,” Ms Basdekis said. “You have to volunteer at other people’s blitzes, then, like a points system, you are eligible to host your own.”

“For me, having a blitz I can then grow my own food, for everyone else that comes along it’s about learning”.

Three volunteer designers drew up plans to transform Ms Basdekis’ gardens, while a group of volunteers turned up on the day to put plans into action.

The volunteers planted 11 fruit trees including apples, feijoas, stonefruits and citrus, and also built four raised vegetable beds with tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, beans, kale, beetroot and more.

Permablitz spokesman Adrian O’Hagan said Permablitz was growing in popularity, with a recent call for volunteers attracting its quota in less than eight hours.

“Working with Permablitz makes me feel like I’m giving something to the community, Mr O’Hagan said. “I think I’ve probably got more out of it than what I’ve put in, as it gives me immense satisfaction to see the movement flourish, and to see people embracing sustainability and edible gardening.”

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About Permablitz Melbourne

Welcome to Permablitz Melbourne - where we get together and have fun learning about, designing and implementing suburban permaculture systems. Our focus is edible gardens, and our ultimate aim is to make the suburbs edible enough such that should food become unaffordable, we don’t even notice.